If it is popular, the chances are you are going to find a home for it in London – and gaming is no exception! There are a few of the most played games in the world that are set in London too. Nightmare Creatures dives into London’s dark and sometimes scary past (including some weird human experiments uncovered in the Great Fire of London).
Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 was a top-down, less highly polished GTA than some of the versions we have now. You’ll be hopping in and out of some of the most popular car models of the time, and while the graphics aren’t that good, it is certainly bell-bottom swinging London.
And if you like counterfactual war games that have a good pinch of history, then Resistant: Fall of Man is a good shout. Set in 1951, UK, there is an onslaught of aliens that you’ll need to fend off. They are heading straight for the big cities like Manchester, York and Bristol – before the ultimate battle in London.
So while London features in games and heavily in movies – are there any games that Londoners (or tourists visiting London) can’t get enough of?
VR
London is packed with VR experiences – all you need to do is decide which one you’d like!
Otherworld has some great VR gaming experiences, including:
- Google Earth VR
- Fruit Ninja
- Raw Data
- Tilt Brush
- Superhot VR
- Windlands 2
- Arizona Sunshine
- Hyper Dash and more
They have four locations, London, Victoria London, Hackney London and Birmingham and are expanding in Scotland, Manchester and the US.
DNA VR has a few locations, too; you’ll find them in Hammersmith and Camden. They offer a VR Escape Room, Ubisoft’s VR Escape room, Premium Free-roaming, and a VR arcade.
Casinos
London is home to one of the most stunning casinos in the world – The Hippodrome Casino. They have live shows and more entertainment than you can shake a stick at. But of course, the stand-out attraction here is the casino.
The Hippodrome Casino offers four floors of gaming, including roulette, baccarat, poker and a range of electronic games too. They do offer slots, they don’t offer bingo and certainly not Slingo! So while they offer a wide variety of gaming, if you like to try new things, check out a Slingo demo on Megaways Casino while you enjoy the refreshments at the Hippodrome!
The God’s is on the fourth floor and has the only dice table in London; Lola’s Casino is on the lower ground and feels like a speakeasy. Both are worth a look!
Gaming Spaces
While VR and Casinos are some of the most popular games played by Londoners, there are other spaces that are dedicated to neither of those things. The Red Bull Gaming Sphere offers plenty of games and a lot of activities too.
Here you can expect a lot of high-end tech for PC gamers, an array of consoles, a JUMBOTRON, display screens and a broadcast gallery.
Not only that, but they have a space dedicated to creators that features a state-of-the-art streaming room. It can be used for podcasting, gaming, competitive gaming and more.
It is highly recommended that you book in advance to avoid disappointment. There are plenty of events here too. Super Smash Bros and Student Gaming Nights are just a couple of the options.
You’ll most often find eSports played here – and that genre is certainly one of the most popular in London.
In London’s Southbank, you’ll find Immersive Gamebox, which is a space dedicated to groups and teams playing games (or competing) together. They mean it when they say immersive, too, because it involves touch screens, surround sound and motion tracking.
In each game box, you can have up to 6 people, and they are even available for families who love gaming.
The games include things like an Alien Aptitude Test, Shaun the Sheep ChampionSheeps, and Temple of Coins. They also offer a couple that is only suitable for adults and older children, including Squid Game, Angry Birds and the Psychedelic Mansion.
Arcades
Arcade games are a classic, and London has no shortage of places you can go; for the ultimate in retro gaming, head to Heart of Gaming. Heart of Gaming is in Croydon, and they have plenty of retro consoles, including the N64, SENS and Megadrive – just to name a few. With over 60 machines in one place, it is a one-stop shop for those who can’t get enough console or arcade machines.
The Four Quarters arcade bar is a very popular venue, and like the rest on the list, you’ll need to book! London Locations include Hackney, Elephant and Castle, and Peckham.